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Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Faculty and students in Drexel's Psychological and Brain Sciences department work side-by-side on cutting-edge research and clinical projects in areas including health, forensics, neuropsychology, pediatric and child psychology, cognitive, human experimental, clinical psychology and more.

Drexel University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences is an active community of internationally known faculty and student scholars. Our department features state-of-the-art research labs, a training clinic, and a wide array of research and clinical opportunities for our graduate and undergraduate students.

Students in Drexel's Bachelor of Science in Psychology program learn how to frame and find answers to important questions regarding human behavior, cognition and emotion, while working alongside faculty who are leaders in the field. Within the Psychological and Brain Sciences program, students have the option to focus in specific areas: Mind, Brain and Behavior, Human Development or Clinical and Health. For a select number of undergraduates, the Psychological and Brain Sciences department offers an Accelerated BS/MS degree that allows students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years.

At the graduate level, the Master of Science in Psychology is ideal for students who wish to pursue advanced education in scientific psychology and research methods. Our terminal degrees include the PhD in Clinical Psychology, which trains students in the scientist-practitioner model; the PhD in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences, which emphasizes rigorous quantitative and methodological training; and the joint JD/PhD in Law and Psychology, which bridges the gap between the two disciplines.

Psychological and Brain Sciences Research

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences is actively engaged in vibrant research initiatives to advance the science and practice of psychology and brain science. Faculty publish widely, are featured in national and international media, and have won major research awards from premier research bodies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The main research areas in the psychology department are:

Drexel Co-Op for Psychological and Brain Sciences Students

Through Drexel’s cooperative education program (co-op), undergraduates embark on up to three, six-month periods of employment, exploring their career options, strengthening their résumés and building a professional network in the process. Students in our Psychological and Brain Sciences program have held co-op positions at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Magee Rehabilitation Center, the School District of Philadelphia, the Drexel Psychological Services Center, as well as nonprofit organizations focused on health and wellbeing in the community.

Learn More About Drexel Co-op

Mentorship and Support

Drexel’s Psychological and Brain Sciences department is a close-knit group that prioritizes student support and mentorship. A unique feature of our undergraduate program is our Faculty First-Year Mentorship Program, which pairs new psychology majors with a faculty member with a similar clinical or research interest. During their first year at Drexel, students meet with their faculty mentors once per term to explore their academic and professional goals, learn about the department’s resources, and receive guidance as they adjust to life at Drexel. Graduate students in the department are mentored by one or two faculty members who serve as professional and academic advisers. They also work one-on-one in faculty labs, gaining intensive research experience in a variety of clinical and research settings.

Psychological and Brain Sciences Student Organizations

The Psychological and Brain Sciences community in our department is lively and fueled by two active student organizations, which support the study of psychology in the college:

  • PSI CHI Honor Society - Provides academic recognition for inductees and encourages the growth of psychology through members' participation in psychology-related activities.
  • Psychology Club - Strives to promote interest in psychology through events, activities, and social interactions between students and faculty. Learn more at drexelupsychologyclub@gmail.com.
student Meghan Plank
“Five years at Drexel, four years as a Division I athlete, three co-ops, two degrees, and one senior thesis. My experiences at Drexel have been diverse, exhilarating, challenging, and fulfilling in so many ways.”Meghan PlankBS psychology & BS entrepreneurship ’16

Recent News

  • Lashae Williams

    Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate Receives Inaugural Internship Scholarship

    Lashae Williams, a PhD candidate in clinical psychology, received an inaugural Internship Scholarship from the Society for Black Neuropsychology. She is one of two trainees to receive this award, which eases the financial burden of the internship application process.

  • Drexel Chrysikou Lab

    Clinical Psychology Doctoral Students 100% Matched

    Congratulations to all 10 of Drexel's clinical psychology doctoral students who matched for internships at high quality sites! Congratulations also to their mentors. Matching is a highly competitive process and 100% match rate to top-notch sites is another important metric of the strength of the clinical psych doctoral program at Drexel.

  • Two-headed Janus Eight Tips for Staying on Track With Your Goals From Professor of Neuropsychology Eric Zillmer, PsyD

    "The new year provides us with an opportunity to not only review our past year, but also to prepare for the future," says Drexel University College of Arts and Sciences Carl R. Pacifico Professor of Neuropsychology Eric Zillmer, PsyD. Zillmer shares eight tips for staying on track with your goals in 2023.

  • Various junk foods, such as chips, candy and ice cream on a wooden table

    WELL Center Researcher Explores Food Addiction with NIH-Funded Grant

    Before being proven as addictive and damaging, cigarettes gained the attention of children through relatable slogans, cartoon characters and attractive designs. Only with marketing regulation and research detailing the destructive effects of tobacco did smoking slowly become less attractive to its young audience. But the marketing of harmful substances to vulnerable populations hasn’t gone away entirely. Instead, it has switched focus to another product: ultra-processed foods, commonly known as “junk food.” Erica LaFata, PhD, an assistant research professor in the Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center), was recently awarded a grant to explore food addiction in relation to ultra-processed foods.

  • smiling woman standing beside a yellow research board outside on a sunny day Be Who You Want to Be, at Drexel

    Growing up in South Brunswick, New Jersey, psychology major and student advisory board member Sanjana Oak rarely saw herself represented on the television screen. When she did, that character was grossly stereotyped or there only for comedic relief. What was worse, in real life, her peers expected her to behave in that same way. Curious about whether her experience was unique, she set up a research project through the STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) Scholars Program in the Pennoni Honors College.

More News

Upcoming Events

There are currently no upcoming events.

Prospective Students

Please email coas@drexel.edu or call us at 215.895.1805 with any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!


Undergraduate Advising

Jenna Gregory

Jenna Gregory

Academic Adviser; Coordinator, First Forward Program
3018 MacAlister Hall
215.895.2590 | jeg362@drexel.edu

Devon M. Thomas

Devon M. Thomas

Associate Director of Strategic Operations
Stratton Hall, 103A
215.895.0487 | dmt356@drexel.edu

Contact Us

Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Stratton Hall
3201 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215.895.1895 | rns25@drexel.edu